300 million-US dollar insurance cover for victims of crash

International

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Published: Monday, September 17, 2007, 18:13 [IST]

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Bangkok, Sep 17 (UNI) The victims of the Thai budget carrier plane, that crashed in Phuket yesterday, would be covered by a 300 million -US-dollar insurance taken out by The Orient Thai Airlines, Thai government said here today.

Flight OG269 was insured against damages, both to the aircraft and passengers, according to Thai Insurance Commission Office Secretary-Genereal Chantra Purnariksha.

The insurance purchased from a British underwriter covered loss of life, medical expenses and transport of dead bodies, the Thai official said.

Thai budget carrier One-Two-Go has additionally taken out an insurance of five million dollars against damage to the aircraft.

Earlier today, Thai government had said The Orient Thai Airlines was completely responsible for compensating all victims of its Flight OG269 which crashed in Phuket yesterday.

Radio Thailand quoted the Director General of the Department of Insurance, Chanthra Booranarik, as saying that Orient Thai Airlines, parent company of One-Two-Go Airlines, is responsible for paying medical expenses and compensation to all victims of the crashed flight.

Ms Chanthra affirmed her agency would coordinate in expediting aid to crash victims.

She said Global civil aviation protocol clearly dictated that airlines must properly insure their aircrafts and passengers onboard.

Orient Thai Airlines is reported to have leased Flight OG 269 from a foreign company, and has procured full insurance for the plane and its passengers, therefore the airline was capable of reimbursing air crash victims for medical treatment and other expenses.

Ms Chanthra added that if passengers involved in the air crash felt that they were being treated unjustly, they could contact the Department of Insurance at 1186.